Overcurrent transient non-responsive trip device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to protective relays for systems with transformer loading, either power transformers or transmission lines with transformer feed-offs. In such systems, transformer inrush currents may cause relay tripping on initial energization. To prevent this false tripping, inrush currents may be detected and tripping inhibited. By the invention, inrush currents are detected by squaring the monitored quantity at the trip level, and determining whether the resulting rectangular pulses are separated from each other by more than a present amount. Inrush currents give peaky waveforms, with wide gaps between pulses, while genuine fault currents are roughly sinusiodal, and give wide pulses with only narrow gaps.

United States Patent Hill Apr. 18, 1972 [s41 OVERCURRENT TRANSIENT NON- 3,202,876 8/1965 Mathews ..3l7/36 TD RESPONSIVE TRIP DEVICE 3,262,017 7/1966 Ashenden ..317/36 TD X [72] Inventor: Anthony Hill, Weeping Cross, England P i r E i r-J, D, Miller Assistant Examiner-Harvey Fendelman 73 A :A tedElt llndsti L ted ssignee 331 Eng g r as Attorney-M1S6g3dCS8LDOllglaS [22] Filed: July 1, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 51,463 This invention relates to protective relays for systems with transformer loading, either power transformers or transmis- 30 F A P it D la sion lines with transformer feed-offs. In such systems, trans 1 mum y a former inrush currents may cause relay tripping on initial July 2, 1969 Great Britai ,33,362/69 energization. To prevent this false tripping, inrush currents Aug. 8, 1969 Great Britain ..39,847/69 m y be detected and ipp g inhibitedy the invention,

rush currents are detected by squaring the monitored quantity [52] U.S. Cl. ..3l7/36 TD, 317/27, 317/38, at th trip level, a d mi ing h th r th resulting rectan- 317/46, 317/49 gular pulses are separated from each other by more than a [51] Int. Cl. ..H02h 3/08 present amount. Inrush currents give peaky waveforms, with [58] Field of Search ..3l7/36 TD, 27, 38, 46,49, wide g p between p while g i fault rr n are 3l7/l4 A, 14 B, 14 C, 14 K roughly sinusiodal, and give wide pulses with only narrow gaps. [56] References Cited 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,419,757 12/1968 Steen ..317/36 TD a /2 75 /7 a a /5 w r-\ r" a r'% r% r r% Hfi 20/ (7 Pa? 06 qr 05 1! :05 #(7 75 ,P/J ,P/

9P2 4 lg PATENTED APR 18 I972 SHEET 10F 7 PATENTEDAPR 1a 1972 SHEET 5 BF 7 PATENTEDAPR 1a 1972 SHEET 7 [IF 7 1- ()VERCURRENT mnsnzu'r NON-RESPONSIVE 'rrur DEVICE systems. A transformer system may be a power transformer which is to be protected, or a transmission system in which a supply line has several branches teed off by means of transformers.

The basic principle of many protective relays is that a suitable quantity, e.g. voltage or current, in the system to be protected is monitored, and the relays. trips to isolate and thus protect the system if this monitored quantity exceeds a predetermined limit. The quantity may conveniently be fullwave rectified, so that the relay can respond within half a cy-, cle. However, with transformer systems a difficulty arises, since when the system. isfirst energized, large inrushcurrents flow into the transformers. With a simple limit value tripping, therefore, the relay will trip immediately on switching power into the system.

To overcome this, relays have been provided with means for detecting such inrush currents and inhibiting tripping when inrush currents are present. The inrush current detection has been achieved by detecting theamplitude of the second harmonic content of the monitored quantity. This second'harmonic content is negligible whena genuine fault (e.g. a short circuit) occurs, but is high in transformer inrush currents. Thus, tripping is inhibited when the second harmonic content is high. However, this technique is not wholly satisfactory, since if the fault current istoo high, transformer saturation can occur and. the second harmonic will then be generated. Thus a compromise has to be found between wrongly inhibiting tripping when a genuine fault occurs, and wrongly permitting tripping on transformer inrush currents.

The general object of the present invention is to provide improved means for detecting transformer inrush currents,

Thus accordingto the invention there is provided a protective relay includinganinrush current detector which inhibits tripping when a transformer inrush current appears, wherein the inrush current detector determines whether the monitored quantityv exceeds a predetermined limit for less than a predetermined part of the time. Thus the invention utilizes the fact that an inrush currentwaveform is extremely peaky", whereas a fault current is much more nearly sinusoidal, by squaring, the waveform of the monitored quantity at the predetermined limit level and determiningwhether the result.- ing rectangular pulses are sufficiently close together.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a protective relay for atransmission line;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the relay of FIG. 1;

' FIG. 3 is a set of waveforms relating to the operation of the relay of FIG. 1 under inrush current conditions;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a protective relay for a power transformer;

FIGS. SAand 5B, placed the former above the latter, are a circuit diagram of the relay of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 isa set of waveforms relating to the operation of the relay of FIG. 4 under normal conditions; and

FIG. 7 is a set of waveforms relating to the operation of the relay of FIG. 4 under inrush current conditions.

Referring to FIG. 1, a transmission line 10 which has a sub stantial transformer loading is monitored by a set of three current transformers 11. A single relay circuit is shown, monitoring the difference between two phases of the line; in a complete system, further similar circuits are provided to ensure that all three phases are monitored. The relay circuit shown hasan auxiliary current transformer 12 coupling the outputs of the current transformers 11 to a rectifier and powerv supply circuit 13. The circuit 13 supplies power for the restof the circuit, and also full-wave rectifies the signal fed to it. This full-wave rectified signal is fed to a low set" overcurrent detector 14, which produces a square pulse having a duration equal to the time for which the rectified signal is more negative than a predetermined level which corresponds to the minimum operating level. The output square pulses from the circuit 14 are fed to a symmetric integrator and level detector 15, which smooths the signal applied to it by means of a capacitor and produces an output if the capacitor voltage exceeds a predetermined value. The output from the circuit 15 is fed to an output circuit 18 which initiates protective action, e.g. opening circuit breakers to isolate the line 10 from the supply.

The circuit 13 also feeds a high set" overcurrent detector 17, which squares the signal at a predetermined level several times as great as the corresponding level of the similar circuit 14. The signal path through circuits l4 and 15 inherently involves a certain delay; the output from circuit 17 is fed directly to the output circuit 16 and appears without delay, to initiate immediate protective action, if the monitored signal exceeds the large overcurrent setting of the circuit 17.

The circuit 14 also feeds a gap detector circuit 18, which responds to the gaps between the pulses from circuit 14 and produces an output signal if these gaps are of more than a predetermined length. This output is fed to circuit 15 to inhibit it from producing an output. Thus if there are long gaps between the pulses from circuit 14, circuit 15 is inhibited and protective action is inhibited as a result.

Outputs from the circuitry for other phases are commoned into the output circuit 16 via line 19.

The specific circuitry is shown in FIG. 2, and will be described with the aid of the waveforms of FIG. 3. The first waveform, V shows an idealized inrush current waveform. This consists essentially of a single cycle at a frequency substantially greater than the supply frequency, repeating at the supply frequency. The inrush current waveform may be of various forms, depending on the precise conditions, but always has a single peak or two peaks close together followed by a long gap before the waveform repeats. The normal supply line waveform is, of course, a sinusoid of the supply frequency and of much smaller amplitude, and the normal fault waveform is like the normal supply waveform but of amplitude comparable with the inrush current amplitude.

The circuit 12 comprises (FIG. 2) an auxiliary current transformer ACT with a centre-tapped secondary. A metrosil M1 is connected across it to limit the output signal on large overloads. The secondary feeds the circuit 13, in which diodes D7 and D8 form a full-wave rectifier and resistor R13, capacitor Cl, and zener diode ZDl form the power supply for the rest of the circuitry, of polarity as indicated. The effect of rectification is indicated in FIG. 3, first waveform, by the broken lines. Capacitor C1 is charged to the Zener voltage by each half-cycle from diodes D7 andD8 and maintains the power supply voltage substantially constant, provided of course that the input signal is big enough.

The low set circuit 14 comprises essentially a transistor T2 whose base is fed from a voltage divider consisting of resistors R4, RVl, and R14. With an input signal just sufficient to drive Zener diode ZDl into conduction at the crest of each peak, the bottom end of resistor R13 will never be appreciably negative with respect to the negative power supply line, and transistor T2 will therefore always have a positive voltage on its base. This transistor is therefore normally conductive. However, if the input signal increases, the base of transistor T2 will eventually go negative at the peaks of the input signal, cutting it off. Therefor the collector waveform of transistor T2 will consist of positive square pulses, rising from a base level near zero, when the rectified voltage from transformer ACT goes more negative than a predetermined level, indicated as V0 in FIG. 3. The resulting collector waveform is shown as V These pulses are fed to a capacitor C4 via a resistor R8 connected in parallel with a diode D6. The resistances of resistors R8 and R3 (the collector resistor of transistor T2) are chosen to be equal, so that capacitor C4 charges (via resistor R3 and diode D6) and discharges (via resistor R8 and transistor T2) through equal resistances. Capacitor C4 therefore acts as a symmetrical integrator or smoothing circuit. The resulting voltage on it is indicated by the full-line waveform V This capacitor drives a transistor T6, the capacitor, its charging and discharging components, and this transistor together forming the integrator 15. Transistor T6 is normally held cut off by its base bias, but turns on if the capacitor voltage exceeds this bias (indicated as V1 in FIG. 3). Transistor T6 drives a further transistor T7, which in turn drives an output device TPl which forms the output circuit 16. If transistor T6 turns on, transistor T7 also turns on and the output device TPl is energized.

It can be seen that the energization of the output device TPl follows, with a delay in the integrating circuit 15, after the input waveform starts to exceed (negatively) the critical voltage VO (FIG. 3). With a normal fault, the gaps between the pulses from transistor T2 are narrow and the delay will be relatively short unless the critical voltage is only just exceeded.

The output from the rectifying circuit 13 is also fed to a voltage divider comprising resistors R1 and R12, which drives a transistor T1, forming the high set circuit 17. This transistor operates similarly to transistor T2, but with a critical voltage equal to several times VO. Its output, at the collector of transistor T1, is fed to the base of transistor T7 via an isolating diode D5. An input signal exceeding the critical voltage of the high set circuit will turn transistor T1 off, turn transistor T7 on, and energize the output device TPl without delay. A small capacitor C2 prevents the circuit from operating on narrow noise spikes.

The output from transistor T2 is also fed, via diodes D3 and D4 and an inverting transistor T3, to a capacitor C3. Transistor T3 is normally nonconductive, and is turned on by the pulses from transistor T2. The capacitor C3 is therefore discharged by these pulses, but charges through a resistor R6 when transistor T3 is turned off. The voltage on this capacitor C3 is shown as waveform V in FIG. 3. Provided that the pulses from transistor T2 are close together, the voltage on capacitor C3 will never rise much above zero. Should the pulses be widely spaced, however, then the voltage on capacitor C3 may rise to exceed a critical voltage V2 (FIG. 3). This is the voltage on the base of a transistor T5, which is normally cut off but turns on when the voltage on capacitor C3 rises sufficiently. This turns on transistor T4, which is shunted across capacitor C4, and therefore discharges capacitor C4. Thus when a long gap is detected, as indicated by transistor T tuming on, capacitor C4 is discharged and the voltage on it actually follows the broken waveform VC4 of FIG. 3. The voltage on capacitor C4 therefore fails to reach V1, and the output device TPl is not energized. That is the action of the integrating circuit 15 is inhibited.

The components from diode D3 to transistor T4 inclusive form the gap detection circuit 18.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a protective relay for a power transformer (not shown) will be described. In FIG. 4, only the circuitry for a single phase is shown; for a normal three-phase transformer, most of the circuitry will be triplicated for the three phases.

For the phase considered, I 1 and 1 represent the currents in the primary and secondary windings, these currents being obtained from current transformers (not shown). These currents are applied to three auxiliary current transformers CTl to CT3, the output of CTl representing the sum I +1 and the outputs of CT2 and CT3 representing the difference I, I: of

these currents. The sum signal from transformer CT 1 and the difference signal from transformer CT 2 are passed through respective full-wave bridge rectifiers 25 and 26 whose outputs are applied, via adjustable scaling resistors, to a comparator 27. This comparator produces an output signal when the sum signal V, is less than the difference signal V applied to it. This output signal is fed to a symmetrical integrator and level detector 28, which smooths the signal applied to it by means of a capacitor and produces an output if the capacitor voltage exceeds a predetennined value. The output from the circuit 28 is fed to an output circuit 29, which initiates protective action.

The signal V from rectifier 26 is also fed to a high set circuit 30, which operates if the signal V is more than a predetermined multiple (eg 10 times) the minumum relay setting, and causes immediate protective action, its output being fed to the. output circuit 29.

The output of transformer CT 3 is fed to a bridge rectifier circuit 31 which feeds a power supply circuit 32 which provides DC power for the rest of the circuitry. The rectifier 31 also feeds a level detector 34 via a filter 33 which compensates for distortion introduced by the transformer CT3. The rectifier 31 also feeds a further level detector 35. The outputs from level detectors 34 and 35 are fed to an AND gate 36 which feeds a gap detector circuit 37, which in turn feeds the integrator circuit 28 to inhibit it.

Outputs from other phases are commoned onto the line 38.

The comparator 27 and integrator 28 act similarly to the low set circuit 14 and integrator 15 of FIG. 1. The high set circuit 30 is similar to the high set circuit 17 of FIG. 1. The circuitry from rectifier 31 to the gap detector 37 performs a similar function the gap detector 18 of FIG. 1, inhibiting the integrator 28 when an inrush current is detected, but is rather more complicated. The level detector 35 is set to operate at a value at least twice the maximum steady state magnetizing current, and gates the output of the level detector 34. Thus if there is no output from level detector 35, no pulses pass through the AND gate 36 to the gap detector 37, and the integrator 28 is accordingly inhibited. Thus the level detector 35 acts in effect as a primary operating component of the system.

If the setting of level detector 35 is exceeded, then the pulses from level detector 34 (which is set to operate at a much lower level) pass through the AND gate 36 to the gap detector 37. If an inrush current is present, the gap detector will detect long gaps and again inhibit the integrator 28; if a normal overload or fault current is present, the gap detector will not operate and the integrator 28 will operate.

The specific circuitry is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, and will be described with the aid of the waveforms of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The bridge rectifiers 25 and 26 are fed from the transformer secondaries CT 1 and CT 2, which have metrosils connected across them to limit excess voltages, and have small capacitors C25 and C30 connected across them to limit noise spikes. Their outputs are compared by means of the voltage divider RV21, R38, and R44, resistor RV21 having an adjustable tapping. This voltage divider drives transistor T25, which in turn drives capacitor C26 forming the integrating capacitor of the smoothing circuit 28.

The voltages V, and V are related by sealing factors to the outputs of the bridges 25 and 26 respectively. In normal operation, these voltages will be roughly in phase with each other, and if V, is less than V then transistor T25 will be turned on nearly all the time. However, under some conditions these voltages can be out of phase. The top graph of FIG. 6 shows two waveforms V, and V,, with the same AC amplitude, and waveform V being shown with reversed (positive) polarity, but out of phase with each other, and with an exponential transient component in V,,. The next graph shows the difference V V, which is applied to the base of transistor T25, which squares this waveform at substantially the zero level. The waveform at the collector of T25 is shown in the next graph, as V and the waveform of the voltage on the integrating capacitor C26 is shown in the last graph, as V It will be seen that, although the mark: space ratio of the waveform V varies, this ratio is on average about 1:1, For equal AC amplitudes is V and V it is exactly 1:1 regardless of the phase difference in the absence of any exponential DC component; and, as can be seen from FIG. 6, an exponential DC component alternately widens and narrows the pulses, so that such DC components are largely compensated for, and affect the ratio only slightly. For a 111 mark: space ratio, the voltage on capacitor C26 will rise to some maximum level. By choosing a critical level just above this for transistor T26 to turn on, e.g. the level V3 shown in FIG. 6, the integrator 28 will not produce an output for equal amplitude inputs to the comparator 27, regardless of their phase, but will respond to V, being less than V,,. For inequality of inputs, the mark: space ratio will vary with phase, but the range of variation will never extend to include the 1:1 value. The system thus has a substantially circular characteristic in the complex plane.

The response time of this relay is short compared to that of electromechanical systems. For through faults, i.e. faults in the circuitry fed by the transformer being protected, it is found that transient disturbances may cause the relay to operate. This is because the line current transformers produce a substantial spill current for a time comparable with operating time of the system. To prevent this, a transient bias circuit is included. This transient bias circuit consists of diode D30, resistors R52 and R53, and capacitor C32. At the instant of a through fault the bias at the base of transistor T25 is increased for a short time, increasing the stability of the system without loss of either sensitivity or speed of operation for internal faults of the transformer.

The two level detectors 34 and 35 fed from the rectifier 31 are constituted by transistors T33 and T34 respectively. These transistors have their collectors commoned together, so forming the AND gate 36. The gap detector includes a capacitor C28, this controlling a transistor T29 which turns on when the capacitor voltage exceeds a predetermined level. The output of transistor T29 is amplified by the two transistors T 30 and T31, which when turned on discharge the capacitor C26 of the integrator.

The transformers CTl to CT 3 are, for practical reasons, made as physically small as possible. With a decrease in size, the output may become somewhat distorted. A typical inrush current waveform is shown in the first graph of FIG. 7, full line waveform V,; the overshoot distortion resulting from a small transformer CT3 is shown by the broken line waveform V,', on the same graph. This distortion if of no consequence as far as transformers CT and CT2 are concerned. However, with transformer CT3 the waveform becomes rectified, as shown by the full-line waveform V in the second graph, and the overshoot portions may exceed the setting level VO of the level detector 34. The pulses from this detector will then be as shown in the fourth graph, full line waveform. The gaps between these pulses are relatively short, and the gap detector circuit may therefore fail to recognize the waveform as an inrush current waveform. The relay may therefore trip incorrectly on an inrush current.

To prevent this, the filter 33 is provided, consisting essentially of resistors R46 and R47, diodes D26 and D28, and capacitor C31. The voltage at the base of transistor T33 is loosely clamped near zero, by diode D26 and the base-emitter junction of transistor T33.

Hence the right-hand side of capacitor C31 is always at a voltage near earth. In FIG. 7, second graph, the base line is the positive supply line of FIG. 5, and the earth level is shown as VE. As the voltage V goes negative, diode D28 will turn on when this voltage falls below the earth level VE. When this happens, capacitor C31 will begin to charge through D26, R46, and D28 with a relatively short time constant. Its voltage will therefore follow the broken line wave form V of the second graph of FIG. 7, until the voltage V returns towards zero and difiers from the voltage on C31 by the supply voltage, i.e. the voltage across the zener diode ZD21 and the capacitor C29. At this point diode D28 becomes non-conductive, and capacitor C31 will discharge through R46, R47, and the base-emitter junction of transistor T33 with a relatively long time constant.

The voltage V applied to the bottom end of resistor R46 will therefore be the difference between the voltages V and V as shown in the third graph of FIG. 7. The output from transistor T33 will therefore be that shown by the broken waveform of the fourth graph of FIG. 7. By a suitable choice of the time constants for charging and discharging C31, the overshoot of waveform V can be eliminated from waveform V,,', as shown. The gaps between the pulses from an inrush current will therefore be long, and inrush currents will be properly detected.

It can be seen that this filter circuit reduces the widths of all pulses for example, the first pulse in waveform V has been narrowed. The same effect will occur for genuine fault current waveforms. However, if the circuit 34 has its parameters suitably adjusted, discrimination at the desired level between genuine fault currents and inrush currents can still be achieved. The discharge time constant of capacitor C31 is preferably matched fairly closely to the effective time constant of the overshoot of waveform V,.

The high set circuit 30 comprises a transistor T28. The output from this transistor and the output from a transistor T26 controlled from the capacitor C26 are combined at transistor T27, whose output is fed via a diode D29 to the output circuit F2. Outputs from other phases are commoned onto line 38 via corresponding diodes; the circuits for these other phases share the positive supply line and not the earth" line with the circuitry shown.

Iclaim:

l. A protective relay for a transfonner system, including an inrush current detector which inhibits tripping when a transformer inrush current appears, characterized in that the inrush current detector comprises means for producing a square wave pulse having a duration equal to the time for which the instantaneous monitored quantity is above a predetermined level, and

timing means for determining whether there are intervals greater than a predetermined value between the square wave pulses.

2. A protective relay according to claim 1, wherein the monitored quantity is rectified before being fed to the square wave pulse producing means.

3. A protective relay according to claim 1, wherein the timing means comprise a capacitor which is discharged during the duration of the square wave pulse and charged when the square wave pulse ceases, and a-level detector which inhibits tripping when the capacitor is charged to above a predetermined value.

4. A protective relay according to claim 1, including a symmetrical integrator fed by the square wave pulse and including a capacitor which is charged and discharged as the monitored quantity exceeds and falls short of the predetermined level,

an output circuit which operates when the capacitor is charged above a predetermined value, and

coupling means between the inrush current detector and the symmetrical integrator for discharging the capacitor on an inrush current being detected.

5. A protective relay according to claim 1, including a high overload detector for causing immediate tripping when the monitored quantity exceeds a predetermined high overload level, the high overload detector not being inhibited by the inrush current detector.

6. A protective relay according to claim 1, including a small coupling transformer for coupling the monitored quantity to the squaring means, and

a diode-capacitor filter for eliminating overshoot of inrush current waveforms introduced by the coupling transformer.

7. A protective relay for a transformer, including means responsive to the sum and difference currents of the transformer to cause tripping on overload, and

an inrush current detector responsive to the difference current of the transformer for inhibiting tripping, the inrush current detector comprising means for producing a square wave pulse having a duration equal to the time for which the instantaneous difference current is above a predetermined level, and

timing means for determining whether there are intervals greater than a predetermined value between the square wave pulses. 

1. A protective relay for a transformer system, including an inrush current detector which inhibits tripping when a transformer inrush current appears, characterized in that the inrush current detector comprises means for producing a square wave pulse having a duration equal to the time for which the instantaneous monitored quantity is above a predetermined level, and timing means for determining whether there are intervals greater than a predetermined value between the square wave pulses.
 2. A protective relay according to claim 1, wherein the monitored quantity is rectified before being fed to the square wave pulse producing means.
 3. A protective relay according to claim 1, wherein the timing means comprise a capacitor which is discharged during the duration of the square wave pulse and charged when the square wave pulse ceases, and a level detector which inhibits tripping when the capacitor is charged to above a predetermined value.
 4. A protective relay according to claim 1, including a symmetrical integrator fed by the square wave pulse and including a capacitor which is charged and discharged as the monitored quantity exceeds and falls short of the predetermined level, an output circuit which operates when the capacitor is charged above a predetermined value, and coupling means between the inrush current detector and the symmetrical integrator for discharging the capacitor on an inrush current being detected.
 5. A protective relay according to claim 1, including a high overload detector for causing immediate tripping when the monitored quantity exceeds a predetermined high overload level, the high overload detector not being inhibited by the inrush current detector.
 6. A protective relay according to claim 1, including a small coupling transformer for coupling the monitored quantity to the squaring means, and a diode-capacitor filter for eliminating overshoot of inrush current waveforms introduced by the coupling transformer.
 7. A protective relay for a transformer, including means responsive to the sum and difference currents of the transformer to cause tripping on overload, and an inrush current detector responsive to the difference current of the transformer for inhibiting tripping, the inrush current detector comprising means for producing a square wave pulse having a duration equal to the time for which the instantaneous difference current is above a predetermined level, and timing means for determining whether there are intervals greater than a predetermined value between the square wave pulses. 